Associate Vice President, Primary Giving

The Pennsylvania State University•University Park, FL

About The Position

Penn State is currently seeking an Associate Vice President for Primary Giving to launch and lead an experienced team in fundraising for donors under $100,000. As a member of the Division of Development and Alumni Relations (DDAR), you can play an integral role in Penn State’s future and contribute to one of the most successful fundraising and alumni relations operations in the country. Reporting directly to the Vice President for Development and Alumni Relations, the AVP will be critical in planning future university wide campaigns, identifying new donor pipelines and building a positive team environment. As a visionary and strategic leader, the AVP will collaborate closely with colleges, campuses, units, and the Penn State Alumni Association to align primary giving initiatives with institutional priorities. The AVP will be accountable for building data-driven strategies that engage, solicit and retain donors.

Requirements

Senior leadership experience in annual giving and frontline fundraising, particularly in an institution of higher education and/or healthcare
Exemplary interpersonal and communication skills
The ability to create and maintain an inclusive and respectful environment for all students and colleagues
Experience implementing innovative technical solutions, such as AI and digital fundraising
Experience with affinity and peer-to-peer giving strategies
Knowledge and experience in both alumni and grateful patient fundraising
Sound professional judgment, including proven ability to solve problems, prioritize tasks, respond to questions and make decisions while also functioning as a leader in a shared governance organization
Success in developing and advocating for staff of varying levels of expertise and accountability
Enthusiasm for new opportunities in the fundraising discipline of donor pipeline development, affinity giving and primary giving
Experience in project management and business process development
Strong proficiency with data analytics and technology tools
Strong executive communications skills, including an ability to articulate plans and present results
The professional demeanor required to engage and leverage senior leadership, volunteer leadership and other fundraising stakeholders
Experience with MS Office Suite software including MS Word and Excel
Proven track record of effective change management
A proven ability to self-motivate and work both independently and as part of a team
A commitment to professional development, learning, and being mentored

Responsibilities

Guide and partner on the strategy and execution of all primary giving programs, shaping distinct, customized methods of solicitation for PSU, including alumni, employees, retirees, students, families and friends
Articulate Penn State’s needs, ambitions, and values through excellent informal and formal communications
Lead and motivate teams of fundraising professionals, intentionally developing career pathways, maximizing strengths and identifying opportunities while inspiring a positive and supportive culture
Leverage traditional solicitation methods with powerful digital initiatives that optimize emerging technologies and champion innovation
Set programmatic performance targets in order to measure, evaluate and adapt tactics and investment. Targets include goals such as alumni participation and faculty/staff participation
Collaborate with External Engagement to monitor and develop strategies to increase donor retention
Develop and execute a plan to integrate annual giving, leadership annual giving and affinity giving to ensure a consistent donor experience
Collaborate with development communications teams on creative concepts and briefs, copywriting and design for all primary giving efforts
Collaborate with information systems, prospect management and business analytics teams to organize information to create reports that inform primary giving strategies, enhance data integrity and maximize use of the university’s constituent relationship management system
Develop and sustain in-depth knowledge of Penn State’s education and healthcare funding priorities
Build strong relationships with leaders and senior fundraisers across DDAR, including college, campus, unit, Alumni Association and Penn State Health teams, to ensure all strategies and goals are communicated, aligned and optimized
Present performance reports to Penn State leaders and partners on a regular basis
Leverage crowdfunding and peer-to-peer engagement opportunities, including Giving Day, to build cohorts of advocates
Serve on university, health system and DDAR committees related to philanthropy
Serve on the Development and Alumni Relations leadership team
Participate in annual planning activities to optimize Penn State investment
Develop, administer and monitor annual operating budgets
Coordinate, support and drive operational efficiency in primary giving
Anticipate and protect DDAR from creating risk to the university and health system enterprise, especially reputational and data protection risks
Engage stakeholders in colleges, campuses, and units to understand shared goals and vision
Identify and address best practices in change management
Ensure documentation of project management and business processes